Brenda, Harry and Salli

Alberta writer Brenda Kossowan has returned safely home from an 8,600-kilometre tour across the Prairie Provinces and along the northern shores of the Great Lakes in Ontario.
Starting at Alberta Pork Congress in Red Deer in mid-June, she and her dog, Salli, travelled to the University of Saskatoon and Prairie Swine Centre and onward to visit Hutterite colonies in Oakville and Ste. Agathe Manitoba.
Brenda then set her sites on Kenora, Sault Ste. Marie, Guelph and Ottawa before turning her rig around and heading home via Winkler, Manitoba and Lethbridge, Alberta. Along the way, she gathered stories and photos from people whose work has made an impact on pig production throughout Western Canada and beyond.
This issue of Prairie Hog Country features stories from Alberta Pork Congress, Prairie Swine Centre and the fabrication plant based at Crystal Spring Hutterite Colony. Watch future editions for stories about the steel fabrication at Grand Colony and vaccine development at the VIDO laboratory, based at the University of Saskatchewan. Also coming down the tube is a feature about venerated farm broadcaster and writer Harry Siemens and a story based on the day in the life of a swine veterinarian, starring Cordell Young.
Brenda is grateful for the hospitality of everyone who welcomed her into their homes and their facilities. She sends special thanks to Don Bridge and his son Roger who allowed her to park on the driveway of their beautiful home in Whitby, Ontario and to Arian and Jane de Bekker, who opened their home and took her to dinner at the neighbouring golf course while she visited with Harry in Winkler, Man. •

Above: Jane & Arian de Bekker, at their home in Winkler MB.
Below: Don Bridge’s back yard in Whitby, ON